Fear Effect is a beautifully drawn cel-shaded action game that takes you from the streets of Hong Kong right through to the bowels of hell. With its fixed angles and pre-rendered backgrounds, it does the 'survival horror' thing that was so popular at the time, though the gameplay is integrated with story and cut-scenes much better than most of its peers. Throughout the game, you control three likeable, well-written characters, blasting your way with dual pistols through enemies that span the gamut from gangsters, to zombies, right through to high-tech aircraft. By today's standards, it looks and plays much better than many of its contemporaries. Even though the backgrounds are pre-rendered, they're alive with additional lighting effects, such as beams of light scanning the skies over dystopian cities, mist rising from ventiliation shafts, and billboards flickering on background buildings. The game was - and still kind of is - visually jaw-dropping, and the witty writing and cinematics (which looked great without relying on FMV) make it a joy to play through.
Gamer, Researcher of strange things.
I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.
